#31 NC State Wolfpack: College Football 77 in 77

If you want to know who the second best team is the ACC Atlantic division is, read on. If there’s one team that will keep the Florida State Seminoles from reaching the league title game, it’s the NC State Wolfpack. The pack will miss dual threat QB Russell Wilson, the league’s runner-up for the MVP award last year, who moved on to the Wisconsin Badgers.

However, I believe in new 6’6″ starter Mike Glennon, brother of former UVA signal caller Sean Glennon. He’s not as mobile, but he’s got a strong arm and should benefit from having many of the OL starters back in place for 2011.

2010 was: 9-4 with a bowl win over West Virginia (if you beat a Big East team does it still count?) and a top 25 national ranking in the final poll. The defense was stellar, among the best in the ACC in stopping the run and generating sacks. And they played some great white collar football, finishing 17th in the nation in passing, but just 95th in rushing.

BMOCs: Glennon, WR Tobias Palmer is the sleeper of what’s around at that position. They lost their best three wideouts, and need a new starter at tailback as well. Mustafa Greene and Tony Creecy will be considered the best running back in his group. On defense the names you need to know are LBs Terrell Manning and Audie Cole, as well as DT J.R. Sweezy

2011 will be fruitful if: the D truly is the best unit of the Tom O’Brien regime. It appears to be that way on paper. And the schedule has lots of easy soft spots in it. The offensive line will set the pace for everyone else, as there’s new starters at all the skill positions.

2011 will be awful if: all the new starters at the skill positions and the freshman punter and kicker lead to inconsistency and issues.

Bottom Line: The defense is too talented, and the ACC schedule too weak for them not to have a winning season. And they’re going in the right direction as a program. 8-9 wins in 2011 looks quite likely.

NC St. Rankings: #39 Athlon, #32 Lindy’s, #52 Phil Steele

Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports

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